The Christensen Family Foundation
san-carlos-california-710929445?backTo=%2Fcapital-tracker%2Frecipients%2Fsan-francisco-and-marin-food-bank---san-francisco-california%3FbackTo%3D%252Fcapital-tracker%252Ffunders%252Fimpactassets---bethesda-maryland%253FbackTo%253D%25252Fsolution-provider-directory%25252Fwaste-no-food---california-usa type: exa:search title: ReFED - Capital tracker type: exa:search title: Christensen Family Foundation - Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica type: exa:search title: Christensen Family Foundation - Form 990 for period ending Dec 2010 - Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica type: exa:search title: 103287c7.tif type: exa:search title: Dog Dreams Foundation | Escondido, CA type: exa:news title: The Christensen Fund Details Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Pledge Commitments - The Christensen Fund type: exa:news title: "Christensen Fund Awards $200,000 Grant to AISES \u2013 CSRwire" type: exa:news title: User | chroniclejournal.com - Christensen Fund Awards $200,000 Grant to AISES type: exa:news title: User | thepilotnews.com - Christensen Fund Awards $200,000 Grant to AISES type: exa:news title: Contact Us - Concord Monitor - Christensen Fund Awards $200,000 Grant to AISES
Key facts about The Christensen Family Foundation
- EIN
- 71-0929445
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $540,500
- Grants made (2024)
- 37
- Average grant
- $14,608
- Median grant
- $10,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 16% first-time grantees (6 of 37, 2024)
- Total assets
- $12,413,815
- Primary geography
- California (94% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who The Christensen Family Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Christensen Family Foundation's 37 itemized 2024 grants were California (94%). The most frequent recipient cities were Petaluma, CA (5 grants), San Francisco, CA (4 grants), San Mateo, CA (4 grants) and San Jose, CA (3 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is The Christensen Family Foundation open to new grantees?
16%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 37 grantees (16%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $16K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $12K repeat.
- 84% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−9%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 91% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Christensen Family Foundation
- How to evaluate The Christensen Family Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to The Christensen Family Foundation with AI
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$12.4M
+8.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$541K
-29.5% YoY
Grant Count
37
-17.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$15K
-14.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Christensen Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $596K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports initiatives in the following areas:
- Arts and culture
- Historical activities
- Historic preservation
- Education
Grantmaking
The foundation is open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants receiving funding.
Ready to take the next step with The Christensen Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds projects across multiple U.S. states, including:
- California (including San Francisco, San Diego, and the San Carlos area)
- Colorado
- Illinois
- New Hampshire
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 37 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue:
- Total assets (2024): $12,413,815
- Total assets (2023): $11,485,881
- Total revenue (2024): $758,818
- Total revenue (2023): $633,574
- Total expenses (2024): $599,578
Revenue Sources (2024):
- Investment income and dividends: $287,559
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $471,259
Staffing: The foundation operates with zero employees.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $12,413,815 | $11,485,881 | $10,511,404 |
| Revenue | $758,818 | $633,574 | $421,122 |
| Expenses | $599,578 | $820,790 | $788,193 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $545,472 | $771,700 | $724,364 |
| Net Investment Income | $710,083 | $587,884 | $374,055 |
| Distributable Amount | $596,410 | $544,262 | $573,448 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
231 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Laughing Pony Rescue ($84,000), Eastside College Prep ($60,000), Epatt ($35,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| LAUGHING PONY RESCUE Rancho Santa Fe, CA | GENERAL | $84,000 |
| EASTSIDE COLLEGE PREP East Palo Alto, CA | GENERAL | $60,000 |
| EPATT Palo Alto, CA | GENERAL | $35,000 |
| NORCAL INTERSCHOLASTIC CYCLING Petaluma, CA | GENERAL | $30,000 |
| TEAM SWIFT San Mateo, CA | GENERAL | $21,000 |
| AVE MARIA ACADEMY Maple Grove, MN | GENERAL | $20,000 |
| HOMEWARD BOUND San Francisco, CA | GENERAL | $20,000 |
| BAY AREA CANCER CONNECTIONS Palo Alto, CA | GENERAL | $15,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB San Mateo, CA | GENERAL | $15,000 |
| CANAL ALLIANCE San Rafael, CA | GENERAL | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation's leadership team serves without compensation:
- Amy Christensen, President
- Andrew Christensen, Director
- Gavin Christensen, Treasurer
- Maren Christensen, Secretary
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amy Christensen | President | — | — |
| Andrew Christensen | Director | — | — |
| Gavin Christensen | Treasurer | — | — |
| Maren Christensen | Secretary | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: 801 American Street San Carlos, CA 94070-4101
Phone: 650-593-1841
EIN: 71-0929445
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Christensen Family Foundation fund?
The foundation supports initiatives in the following areas: • Arts and culture • Historical activities • Historic preservation • Education
How do I apply for a grant from The Christensen Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving in 2023: $767,000 • Total expenses in 2024: $599,578 • Number of grants made in 2024: 49 grants • Recent grant examples include: • Laughing Pony Rescue: $84,000 • Eastside College Preparatory School: $60,000 • Team Swift Junior Development: $21,000 **Application Status:** The foundation is open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants receiving funding.
Where does The Christensen Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds projects across multiple U.S. states, including: • California (including San Francisco, San Diego, and the San Carlos area) • Colorado • Illinois • New Hampshire
What size grants does The Christensen Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Christensen Family Foundation awarded 37 grants totaling $541K — an average of about $15K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Christensen Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Christensen Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $596K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Christensen Family Foundation's EIN?
The Christensen Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 71-0929445. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Christensen Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.